College Dooms Major In Geographical Field

Geography as a field of concentration will drop out of the College catalogue in 1949 when the University terminates the temporary appointments of three faculty members. Edward A. Ackerman '34, assistant professor of Geography, Edward L. Ullman, assistant professor of Regional Planning, and Richard F. Logan, teaching fellow in Geography have been notified that their appointments in the Department of Geology and Geography will cease at the end of 1949.

Consequently, 15 sophomores and first term junior geography concentrators will have to switch fields as they won't find enough courses to complete their degree requirements after June 1949, Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., chairman of the Committee on Degrees for the Geological Sciences, disclosed last night.

"Can't Have Everything"

"Harvard can't hope to have strong departments in everything," Hurlbut said in explanation, adding that second term Juniors and Seniors now in the field are safe. Permanently-appointed Derwent S. Whittlesey, professor of Geography, returns from leave of absence next fall and will continue to give Geography courses for non-concentrators.

Provost Buck was not available yesterday for comment on the University decision, which was reached early in February.

Other sources on Divinity Avenue saw the measure both as an economy move and as the result of a growing feeling that "human" Geography is out of place at Harvard. The subject became a concentration field in 1928.

Ullman's connection with the School of Design will not be affected, Hurlbut said. Ackerman and Logan, however, are to be dropped from the faculty entirely.